Valve-actuating mechanism for gas-engines.



V. W. POTTER. VALVE AUTUATING MECHANISM FOR GAS ENGINES. I APPLICATION FILED OUT. 27, 1969. 95 1 ,9 5, I Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

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V. W. POTTER. VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR GAS ENGINES.

AIPLIGATION FILED OUT, 27, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

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WITNESSES ENIIED STA'I% PATENT @FFICE.

VALDA W. POTTER, 0F OELWEIN, IOWA.

VALVE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR GAS-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALDA W. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oelwein, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Actuating Mechanism for Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates, generally, to gasengines and, more particularly, to a novel form of Valve-actuating mechanism therefor. a

The object of the invention is, primarily, to provide a novel form of valve-actuating mechanism, which, while being extremely simple in construction, shall be reliable and positive in its action.

Other subsidiary objects of improvement will appear as the specification proceeds and the nature of the invention more fully appears.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of my application for patent, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have, for illustrative purposes, shown my improvements as embodied in a gas-engine; but it will be understood, of course, that I do not confine my invention to such use, as my improvements are equally applicable for use in connection with forms of engines, other than gas-engines.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gas-engine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, certain parts being shown in sectlon; Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4c is a detached detail view of one of the levers; and Fig. 5 is a detached detail view of the duplicate cam-wheels.

Referring, now, in detail to the drawings: A designates the frame or supporting-base of the gas-engine; and b, b designate the valvestems, movement of which is controlled by my valve-operating mechanism, now to be described.

Carried by the main shaft G of the engine is a broad-faced pinion 0, in mesh with, and driving in unison, duplicate cam-wheels (Z, cl, revolubly mounted on a shaft D projecting from the frame A. Each cam-wheel a is provided with circumferential gear-teeth and one face of each wheel is recessed, as at (F, and provided with a cam d The relative position of these cam-wheels on the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 27, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 524,931.

shaft D is back to back, as shown in Figs. 8 and 5. The cam-wheels (Z are exact duplicates of each other in every respect. Pivotally supported at their lower ends on a shaft E projecting from the frame A are duplicate levers 6, each preferably provlded with a hub-portion e at its lower end, and carrying at its upper end a roller 6 working against the circular rim or edgewall d of the recessed portion d of the camwheel (Z; the rollers, at the proper time in the rotation of the cam-wheels, being engaged by the cams (Z d to rock the levers e, 6. Links 1, j are each pivotally secured, at one end, to the corresponding lever e and, at the other end, to the shortest arm 9 of a lever 9, having an offset 9 in the nature of a collar loosely embracing a shaft h carried by a casting or standard I-I secured to the under side of the piston-chamber I. Each lever g carries, also, an arm 9 which is, at one end, formed as a collar g loosely embracing the shaft h and, at the other end, 9 loosely engages the valve-stem b. Each valve-stem b is provided with a spring Z), which serves to hold the valves in their seats, and the cam-rollers 6 against the rim (Z and against the cams CZJ, as is obvious.

It is believed that the operation of the valve-actuating mechanism will be apparent; but, briefly stated, it is as follows: Ro tation of pinion c revolves the cam-wheels (Z, (Z in unison, the rollers 0 e traveling around the rims (Z6 of the recessed portions 6Z3, (Z until they are engaged by the cams al 614, when the levers c are swung backward 011 their pivots E, thus drawing rearward the links f, f and rocking the levers g, g on their pivot h and consequently rocking the arms 9 g of said levers to actuate the valves.

It is often necessary, in stationary gasengines, especially those for farmers use, for the engineer to reverse his engine; hence the purpose of the duplicate cam-wheels (Z, (Z is to enable the operator to change the direction of his engine. This is accomplished by loosening the set-screw c securing the levers c, e to the shaft E, slipping the front lever c outward, and then slipping the frontor back cam-wheel (Z out of mesh with the pinion c and turning said cam-wheel to set itback or forward say four cogs or more teeth, and, in this position. slipping said wheel into mesh again with the pinion c and tightening up the set-screw c. This, as is obvious, changes the former relative positions of the cams d", (Z causing the explosion to take place either on the down-, or the up-stroke of the crank.

The construction of the device is susceptible of modification in detail, without sacriticing the advantages or affecting the spirit of the invention; and all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claim, constitute no departure from the invention, herein described, illustrated, and claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

In a gas-engine having two valves, a valveactuating mechanism therefor, comprising a broad-faced pinion, independent, duplicate gear-wheels meshing with, and driven in unison by, said pinion, and positioned back to back and each having a cam, mechanism intermediate said gear-wheels and said valves and intermittently engaged and moved by said cams, to actuate said valves, and means permitting disengagement of one of said gear-wheels from mesh with said pinion, for changing the relative position of said cams.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VALDA WV. POTTER.

Witnesses V. G. VALRA'IH, J. V. KINT. 

